Vacuum tube pickup device



Nov; 17, 1931. T. w. SUKUMLYN 1,831,977

VACUUM TUBE PICK-UP DEVICE Filed July 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1-,F.'z5-.1 42 g 4/ f? 4 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE YS.

Nov. 17, 1931. T. w. SUKUMLYN 1,831,977

VACUUM TUBE PICK-UP DEVICE Filed July 28. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORY Thomas W Suflum/yn.

Patented Nov. 17,1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS W. SlIKUMLYN, OF I405 ANGELES,CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM TUBE PICKUP DEVICE Application filed July 28, 1930. Serial No.471,120.

' produce a variation in current corresponding to the mechanicalmovement of a stylus, as actuated by a phonographic record.

A similar device is disclosed in one of my prior patent applications,Serial No. 423,416, filed January 25, 1930, and entitled Electronemission device. My present application is directed to a modified orimproved form of such a device, and can be used in general for the samepurposes as outlined in my said prior application.

In my prior application, I describe a device including a closedevacuated vessel, such as one made of glass, and having a metal coversecured thereto. Inside of the evacuated vessel, are a series ofelectrodes; one being a cathode, another an anode, and a. third being agate electrode for controlling the passage of electrons from thecathodeto the anode. This control effect is accomplished by mechanicallymoving the gate electrode so as to define a variable aperture throughwhich the electrons are to pass between the cathode and anode.-

It is one of the objects of my invention to make itpossible to supportthe various electrodes from the closure only, whereby the adjustment andasseinbly of the parts can be simplified.

It is another object of my invention to provide a novel and simple formof seal for the conductors thatextend into the vessel and connect tothevarious electrodes.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich ma be made more easily apparent from a consi eration of oneembodiment of my invention.

' For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying andforming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to'describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principlesof my invention; but it is to be understood that this detaileddescription is not to'be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope ofmy invention is best defined by the appended claims.

,metal flange 15 is seale Referring to the drawings:

F'gure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vacuum tube deviceembodying myinvention, said device being shown on an enlarged scale forthe sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a detailed section of the left hand portion of the device asshown in Fig. 1, said detailed section being still more enlarged thanthe section of Fig. 1; y v

Fig. 3 is a detailed section taken along plane 33 of Fig. 2; 4

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a pers record;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of a portion of themechanism, illustrating particularly the manner in which the stylus issupported on the closure for the evacuated vessel; and

Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form ofstructure for leading the electrical conductors into theevacuatedvessel.

Since the main features of the present device are similar to thefeatures described and claimed in my aforesaid application, it isconsidered unnecessary to describe them again in any great detail.

Thus in Fig. 5 is indicated in general a ctive view showing a 7 generalway my evlcein use on a flat dlsk flat phonographic disk'record 11 whichis brated transversely of its axis, thereby operating a gate electrode,such as descnbed in my prior application.

Fig. 1 shows a tubular vessel 14, which can conveniently be made ofglass or analogous material, and in which are disposed the variouselectrodes. In the present instance, all of the electrodes are supporteddirectly from a coveror closure member for the evacuated vessel 14 in amanner now to be de-, scribed.

As shown most clearl in Figs. 1 and 2, a cl or otherwise joined to theend of the vessel 14. Over this flange is fastened, as bg welding orsoldering, a comparatively thic metal plate 16 which serves to seal thevessel 14.

When evacuating vessel 14, after asembly of the parts 15, --16, etc.,the vessel is heated to drive ofi the entrapped gases. Since solder isused to hold parts 15, 16, 26, 28 together, this solder may soften. Toobviate any separation of the parts during evacuation, a lating ofcopper or other suitable metal is aced' over these parts after they areassemble said plating holding the soldered parts firml againstdisplacement. Other arts not nee ing to be plated can be covere with aprotective coating during the plating operatlon.

The cathode structure in this instance is quite similar to the structuredisclosed In my glrior application. It includes a flat ribbon or ament17 wound u on a strip of insulation material 18. The ends of this stri17 terminate in the caps or ends 19, 20. he cap 20 is soldered orotherwise attached to the stationa gate electrode 21 whereby theinnerend 0 the filament or cathode structure is supported. The stationag gateelectrode 21 as s own most clearly in 'g. 3 is U-shaped, and has itsparallel legs extended close to I and ad'acent the sides of the filamentStIlIC'.

- there may be provided an insulation 23, which is U-shaped and has thehorizoittg I is connected to a ture. t is fastened directly to the cover16 which can be considered as a grounded element, whereby one terminalof the filament,

as well as the stationary gate electrode 21 is also grounded. v

In order further to ensure against displacement of the filamentstructure 17, 18, 19, 2Q

legs 22 interposed betweenthe cathode stru -ture and the electrode 21.

The ungrounded terminal of filament 17 lead 24, soldered to the cap 19and extending through a sealing tube-25. This tube can be made of glass,with its axis extending substantially parallel to the main vessel 14.Its open end can be provided with a metal flange 26, such as copper theglass is'sealed, said copper flangering 26 being soldered or welded toplate 16, thus providing asealed lead-in connection 24. As

I Y other electrodes of U-shaped metal will be described hereinafter,the tubular member 25 acts as an insulation support for p the device.

The movable gate electrode is formed by member 27, the le of whichdefine with the stationary gate e ectrode 21, a pair of gates ofvariable size dependent upon. the transverse movement of the electrode27. This electrode 27 can be directly 'mod'ated in a fastened to a thindiaphragm 28 covering an aperture in the cover 16. In order to rock thiselectrode 27 in accordance with the vibrations of the st lus 13, thisstylus 13 is accomolder 29'havin an extending boss'30 joined to theouter sur ace of the diaphragm 28. In order to ensure rocking of themember 25 to which 16 is preferabl as to be capable of being placedintight bond the whole stylus holder 29. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2,the holder 29 has a flange overlying but closely spaced from thediaphragm 28 to accommodate a thin film of damping fluid, such'as oil,as described in my prior application. Furthermore, in order to reducethe force necessary to rock the movable gate electrode 27, thiselectrode where it joins the diaphragm 28, can be narrowed in thedirection of movement of the electrode. This is indicated at 32, Fig. 7.

It is thus apparent that a pair of gates 33, 34 (Fig. 3) is provided bythe electrode members 21 and 27. The anode is so formed that theelectrons passing from the cathode 17 through the gates 33, 34 arepassed to an anode structure, such as a U-shaped member 35. This member35 has closely spaced from the electrodes 21, 27. In order to providethis spacing, there may be provided layers of insulation material 36 and37between the member 35 and the stationary gate electrode 21, all asclearly shown in its legs rather The tubular supporting member 25 isalso utilized for the support of the anode member 35. This can beaccomplished for example,

by the aid of a metal band or ring 38 closely wise attached the ends 39,40 of the member To provide a connection to the anode:

35, a lead 41 can extend through the interior and sealed therein. It canbe reversely bent to be accommodated underneath the ring 38.

It is apparent that since all of the electrodes are supported onthe topclosure 16,

these electrodes can be correctly proportioned and accurately alinedprior to their insertion into the vessel 14. The two gate electrodes 21and 27, as well as one terminal-of the filament 17 being grounded on theclosure 16, can be connected into any appropriate circuit,.as' by theaid of-a ground connection :2 soldered or otherwise attached to themem-' In the form shownin Fig. 2, the sealing of the leads 41 and 24 isaccomplished by the aid of the glass support 25, through which theseleads extend. It is possible, however, to seal the electrodes directlyinto the metal closure 16 in 'a manner disclosed in Fig. 8. Thus asshown therein, the lead 41 canextend throu h a clearance aperture in theclosure mem er 16. Glass beads such as 43 can be used to seal the spacearound the lead 41. This glass is-fir'st heated to a plastic conditionand the material used for part y copper, properly treated so with thelass bead 43. Preferably these aperture in the metallic closure, and avit beads are p aced one on each side of the clearance' aperture andupon cooling, serve to close up any gap existing between the conductor41 and the member 16.

In this form of sealing, the glass that forms the bead 43 can flow downand through the clearance aperture, although this is notnecessary. Thuslead 24 in Fig. 8 is shown as bein sealed by a pair of glass beads 44which do not extend into the clearance aperture through the member 16,but serve only as over erture.

I claim:

.1. An evacuated vessel havin a closure, a cathode and an anodesupported in the vesscl and on the closure, and' a movable gateelectrode mounted for movement transversely between the anode and thecathode, and supported on the closure.

2. An evacuated vessel, a closure for the vessel at one end, saidclosure having at least a part thereof formed of flexible material,

- a cathode and an anode supported on .the

closure, and a movable gate e ectrode mounted on the flexible materialto permit moveying members closlng the apreous means disposed around thelead and sealing the aperture in the closure.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

ment of the gate electrode transversely between the cathode and anode.

3. An evacuated vessel, a closure for the vessel, a cathode of flatform, in the vessel, a U-shaped anode between the le of which thecathode is disposed in paral el relation to said legs and a gateelectrode having a movable an a stationary portion, dis osed between theanode and cathode and de ning a pair of variable transverse openingsbetween the cathode and anode at respectively opposite sides of thecathode.

4. An evacuated vessel, a closure forthe vessel, a cathode of flat form,in the vessels, a U-shaped anode between the is of which the cathode isdisposed in paral el relation to said legs, a gate electrode having amovable and a statlonar portion, disposed 'between the anode an cathodeand defining ajpair of variable transverse openings be tween the cathodeand anode at respectively opposite sides of the cathode, and externalmBBJlS fOI' operatin the ate electrode,:said means and all the e ectrmisbeing supported on the closure of the vessel.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3, with the addition of'aninsulation support for holding the U-shaped anode and fastened to theclosure. I

6. vThe combination as set forth in claim 3, with the additionof atubular insulation support fastened to the closure, .over which supportthe anode is fastened, and through which sup ort the leads forelectrodes are I passed to t e interior of the vessel.

7. 'An evacuated vessel, a metallic closure for the vessel, electrodestherein, a lead for one of the electrodespassing through an

